Sports
Hockey

Parker leads Legion to victory

ST. CATHARINES – The Sarnia Legionnaires dethroned the Elmira Sugar Kings here over the weekend.

Coach Dan Rose's Western Ontario Hockey Conference club won for the fourth time in the last five games, overthrowing the Midwest Conference Kings 3-1.

The contest was part of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League's annual Showcase Tournament.

Goalie Sean Parker was the big hero for the Sarnians, kicking out 41 pucks for the win.

Parker was especially brilliant in the second period, when the Kings stormed his netted bastion time and again, peppering him with 22 shots, not one of which got by him. He was unbeatable in the final frame as well, turning back a dozen drives.

"He played really solid,” Rose said of his goaltender.

But he added the team performed well as a whole, despite being outshot 42-28. “The kids played really well, they kept it simple, played hard and battled for pucks.”

He also singled out Thomas Moxley for praise, saying the big forward worked tirelessly all night.

After Mitch Wright gave Elmira the lead early in the first period, it looked like it might be a long night for the Legionnaires.

But just 30 seconds later, Jeff Bauer tied the game after being set up by Derek D'Andrea and Brent Sauve. For Bauer, obtained in a trade last week, it was his second goal in two games as a Legionnaire.

Jason Teschke scored his team-leading seventh goal of the campaign with just one second left on the clock to send Sarnia into the dressing room ahead 2-1. Bauer and Davis Boyer drew helpers on the play.

In the second stanza, Josh Kestner notched his fourth of the year to provide Sarnia with a little breathing room. Zack Tuchklaper and captain Jeff Paulley assisted.

Sarnia now sports a won-lost-ovetime loss record of 4-3-2, good enough for 10 points in the standings.

The nine Western Conference teams, who were pitted against clubs from the league's Midwest and Golden Horseshoe conferences, finished the tournament with five wins against one regulation time setback and three extra time defeats.

The Legionnaires return to action Thursday when they host the Strathroy Rockets. Game time at the Brock Street Barn is set for 7:10 p.m.